Antonio Conte’s ‘future in doubt’ as raging Chelsea boss rues Blues’ lack of transfer activity with Romelu Lukaku heading to Manchester United
ANTONIO CONTE'S Chelsea future could be in doubt with the Blues manager furious over the lack of transfer activity so far this summer.
The Italian is understood to be furious that technical director Michael Emenalo has failed to bring in his required targets, with the added burden of Champions League football due to stretch his squad next season.
Conte, 47, was desperate to land No1 target Romelu Lukaku from Everton, but it appears Manchester United have hoodwinked the Premier League champions.
Inside United sources broke the huge news that the Red Devils had agreed a £75million fee with Everton for the Belgian striker.
And to rub salt into the wounds, Jose Mourinho has re-signed the striker whom he sold from Chelsea in 2014 - and now he looks set to join a major rival.
Conte had earmarked the striker has the priority for the summer window with Diego Costa on the verge of heading back to Atletico Madrid for around £40m, via a loan in China for six months.
They also report that the former Juventus and Italy manager had even drawn up a tactical blueprint with Lukaku as the focal point of the champions' attack.
He also wanted Virgil van Dijk, but the defender always looked closer to joining Liverpool before Southampton made a complaint to the Premier League.
Alex Sandro, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata are three other targets Chelsea have still yet to land, with uncertainty still surrounding the two transfers.
Conte's relationship with Emenalo has been rocky and his text message exchange with Costa did not impress the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.
But the Nigerian appears to have been on a mission to try and keep Conte on-side, just months after the club's hugely impressive march to the title.
He had been on holiday with his coaching staff in Sardinia before heading back to London to finalise plans for their pre-season trip, where they face Arsenal on July 22, then Bayern Munich and Inter.